G. Shankar, leader of the fishermen community and a businessman, has taken B.M. Sukumar Shetty, BJP MLA, and actor and the party’s star campaigner Tara, to task for not having made efforts to trace the seven fishermen from Malpe, who went missing off Goa coast on December 15, 2018.

The incident took place at Bagwadi village in Byndoor Assembly constituency of Udupi district, coming under Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency. The video clipping of Mr. Shankar having a sharp exchange with both of the BJP leaders has gone viral.

“Forget what the Congress has achieved or not. But what have you (BJP) achieved in the last five years? You claim to have big missiles, but you have not been able to find the seven fishermen who have gone missing,” Mr. Shankar is heard saying.

‘Solve problems’

Mr. Shankar said that he was an admirer of Mr. Modi and had cordial relations with former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. “But, the problems of the fishermen has to be solved. The fishermen community has been seeking a Scheduled Tribes tag. They want diesel subsidy. The missing fishermen are yet to be traced,” he said.

He went on to ask if the party did not want the vote of the people from the coastal belt. Mr. Shetty and other BJP leaders tried to pacify Mr. Shankar.